2.3.1 Introduction

The conservation, rehabilitation, and redevelopment element recommends strategies to protect stable areas, to rehabilitate those with moderate levels of deterioration, and to redevelop those areas that are deteriorated or transitioning from their present land uses.

Redevelopment improves the quality of the built environment, encourages appreciation for the city’s history and culture, maintains the character and identity of communities, and contributes to the city’s economic vitality. Several factors create the pressure for rehabilitation and new development: among them are population increases, economic activity, the failure of existing building stock, and the demand for higher living standards.

Another aspect of the element is to guide the preservation, protection and restoration of historic and cultural resources so that a clear sense of how the city gained its present form and substance can be maintained. The barriers and opportunities to supporting and maintaining viable and healthy neighborhoods and commercial and employment centers vary considerably, from the oldest central city neighborhoods to the newer areas being developed in the city’s five outlying growth areas. Most of Surprise’s housing stock is less than 10 years old. However as the city ages, the neighborhoods and homes also continue to age. It is critical to ensure that homes and neighborhoods maintain the quality residents have come to expect.